Page 30 of Q: Satan's Fury MC

“I don’t give a fuck about your fucking dealer,” Stitch roared. “You got no business coming in here.”

“I’m sorry. I won’t ever be back around here. I swear it!”

“You bet your ass you won’t.”

Cotton gave Stitch a minute to catch his breath, then asked, “Okay, brother. What do you wanna do?”

“Fuck, I don’t know.” Stitch grumbled several curses under his breath, then finally said, “As much as I’d like to take his sorry-ass back to the hole, I think we should let Mia call the cops.”

“That’s your call.”

“Yeah, I think it would be best.”

Cotton nodded, then turned to us and said, “Okay, boys. Let’s clear out.”

When everyone started to disperse, Stitch called out, “Appreciate you guys coming out.”

After a quick round of goodbyes, we all jumped on our bikes and left Mia and Stitch to deal with the cops. On the way home, I found myself thinking about Jules. I thought about everything she’d told me about her ex and father, and I couldn’t help but wonder when shit hit the fan, if anyone had come to her rescue. I had a feeling that wasn’t the case, and Jules deserved better than that.

I couldn’t do anything to change the past, but I would do everything in my power to make sure no one ever hurt her again.No one.

JULES

Iwas with James for just over six years.

During that time, we had countless arguments, most of which included some sort of violence. Sometimes it was just a push or a slap, while other times, he left me black and blue all over. To make matters worse, no one cared enough to even ask about the bruises. They just pretended they weren’t there, so I did the same.

I just went about my day, and no matter how bad it got, I never talked about the abuse I was enduring. Until the night of the party, I’d kept it all to myself. I had no idea why I’d decided to open up to a stranger, especially one I’d been fighting so hard to resist.

Maybe it was his smile or the kindness in his eyes, but there was something about him that set me at ease, and I ended up telling him things I never intended to tell. I didn’t want him, or anyone else, to think I was weak or messed up in the head. But maybe I was.

I certainly hadn’t come out of it unscathed.

I had scars.

Some were buried deep, while others marked my flesh. I’d done my best not to let them define me, but there were times when they consumed me—heart and soul. It was a thought that had weighed on me for days, and it was still weighing on me when Caroline asked, “Do you have any plans for the night?”

“Hmm?”

“Plans for the night?”

“Oh.” I tossed the rest of the baskets into the bin. “Just some laundry and maybe a movie.”

“You should come to Danver’s with me. We could have dinner and a couple of drinks.Please.” She was practically beaming as she announced, “Hayes is going to be there.”

“Hayes?”

“You know. The guy I met at the party. He’ll be there with a couple of his brothers, and I don’t want to show up there alone.”

“You said the same thing about the party.”

“I know, but this isn’t a big deal. It’s just a burger and maybe a round of pool.”

“With a bunch of dudes I don’t know.”

“Q will be there.” She smiled and playfully fluttered her eyelashes. “You know him.”

“I don’tknowhim, Caroline. I just talked to him for a few minutes at the party. It was no big deal.”

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